Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?

This Lemon Kale Caesar Salad Will Make You Love Kale!

A classic Caesar salad is a thing of beauty! Here, we’re featuring Lacinato kale to make a fresh, citrus-forward Lemon Kale Caesar Salad! Homemade croutons absolutely necessary!

You’ll love this nutrient-dense twist on a traditional caesar salad, as kale is one of the healthiest leafy greens you can get your hands on! It’s heart healthy, supports immunity, is vitamin rich, low in calories, and full of potassium. 

You also may want to check out our shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar salad with truffle (literally the best salad on the planet!), grilled Romaine with lemon caesar vinaigrette dressing, or these chicken patties that are flavored with Caesar vinaigrette! Can you tell we love Caesar salads?

Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?

What You’ll Need To Make This At Home

First, you’ll need a batch of our homemade Caesar dressing or your favorite store-bought brand. We make our Caesar dressing with mayonnaise (have you ever had Duke’s? our fav!), anchovies, fresh chopped parsley, lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, a minced garlic clove, and Dijon mustard. This is 100x better than store-bought, seriously!!, so if you’ve got time it’s absolutely worth the extra effort. Full instructions here!

The other ingredients are straightforward and simple!

  • Lacinato kale, also called Tuscan kale is our preference, but certainly you could use curly kale too!
  • Homemade croutons! Sourdough, whole wheat boule, ciabatta, rye, baguette — you can use any type of bread (even sliced white bread!) to make croutons at home. We love the tangy taste of sourdough. You’ll also need extra virgin olive oil and a bit of Kosher salt.
  • Lemon zest
  • Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?
Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?

How To Clean Kale

First, make sure to wash the kale leaves under cool water to remove any dirt or grit. Pat dry with paper towels.

Next, you’ll want to remove the stems, as they’re pretty tough and hard to eat raw. Hold onto the kale stem with your dominant hand at the base of the leaf, then use your other hand to wrap around the kale, gripping tightly, and slide the leafy part of the green off of the stem. You’ll use a bit of force to pull off the leaves, but once you practice, it’s really easy.

After discarding all the stems, lay 5 or 6 kale leaves on top of each other, then roll them up tightly like you would to chiffonade basil. Use a sharp knife to thinly slice the leaves into ¼ – ½” thick strips.

Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?

How To Make Lemon Kale Caesar Salad

  1. Massage the kale. Place prepped kale in a large bowl, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Use your hands to massage the oil into the kale. This will help to break down some of the tough, fibrous bits of kale, making it easier to chew and digest.
  2. Toast the croutons. Preheat an oven to 375F. Place bread cut into ½” cubes on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp EVOO and ½ tsp Kosher salt, then toss well. Cook for 7-9 minutes, or until croutons are crispy. Set aside.
  3. Dress the salad, then serve. Drizzle on as much Caesar salad dressing as you like (we recommend starting with ⅓ cup), then add croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, flaky sea salt, and black pepper. Use tongs to thoroughly toss, then serve immediately. We like to finish with an extra sprinkle of flaky sea salt and serve with lemon wedges!
Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?

Tips For The Best Kale Caesar

  • Caesar salad dressing will keep for up to 1 week in a fridge. Make sure to store your homemade salad dressing in an airtight container!
  • Serving this lemon kale caesar salad to people who aren’t big fans of kale? Use half romaine lettuce and half kale, just like Chick-Fil-A!
  • Short on time? Buy pre-washed, chopped kale from the store!
  • Want to add more protein? Try adding grilled chicken breast or pan seared shrimp!
  • Try wrapping the lemon kale Caesar salad in a large spinach or sun dried tomato wrap for an easy lunch!

More Kale Recipes

If you love fresh kale, be sure to check out our skillet chicken with kale and white beans, tomato and white bean kale soup, and our easy kale gnocchi. And how insanely delicious does this kale reuben look?!

Is the lemon kale Caesar salad seasonal?
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So excited for you guys to try this at home! If you make this Lemon Kale Caesar Salad recipe, please let us know by leaving a review and rating below!

And make sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow along on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Facebook for more Well Seasoned recipes! DON’T FORGET to tag us on social channels when you make a recipe at #wellseasonedstudio !! We LOVE seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!

More salad recipes to try!

  • Sante Fe Salad
  • Steak Salad Recipe
  • Frisée Salad
  • 10 Lunch Salad Recipes
  • Smoked Salmon Salad

This Lemon Kale Caesar Salad is made with fresh Lacinato kale, homemade croutons, shaved Parmigano Reggiano, lemon zest, and our easy Caesar dressing for a delicious, nutrient-dense lunch or dinner! Keep it vegetarian or top it with grilled chicken breast or pan seared shrimp. Quick, flavorful, and healthy!

Prep25 mins

Cook7 mins

Total32 mins

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: caesar salad dressing, lacinato kale, tuscan kale

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 332kcal

  • Rimmed baking sheet

  • 1 large bunch Lacinato kale ribs and stems removed, leaves ripped or cut into 1-2" pieces
  • ⅓ – ½ cup homemade Caesar dressing or store-bought Caesar salad
  • 2 cups sourdough cut into ¼ – ½" cubes
  • 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil divided
  • ½ tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 lemon zested, about 1 tsp
  • ½ tsp flaky sea salt plus more for serving
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • cup Parmigiano Reggiano shaved
  • Lemon wedges optional, for serving

  • Toast the croutons. Preheat an oven to 375F. Place bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp EVOO and ½ tsp Kosher salt, then toss well. Cook for 7-9 minutes, or until croutons are crispy. Set aside.

  • Massage the kale. Place prepped kale in a large bowl, then drizzle with remaining 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Use your hands to massage the oil into the kale.

  • Toss, then serve. Drizzle ⅓ cup of Caesar dressing (or up to ½ cup) on top of kale, then add croutons, ⅓ cup shaved Parmesan, 1 tsp lemon zest, ½ tsp flaky sea salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Use tongs to thoroughly toss, then serve immediately. We like to finish with an extra sprinkle of flaky sea salt and serve with lemon wedges!

  • Caesar salad dressing can be made up to 5 days in advance.

Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 1073mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6822IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 295mg | Iron: 2mg

Does CFA still have the lemon kale salad?

Covid has been upon us for almost 2 years and Chick Fil A decided to remove their Lemon Kale Salad from the menu.

Is Chick

You can experience all the flavors of the new Lemon Kale Caesar Salad for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide, starting April 26, 2021. Check the Chick-fil-A® App or with your local Chick-fil-A restaurant to confirm availability.

Does Chick

Summer salads are the perfect go-to meal this time of year – crisp and refreshing on a hot day. The leafy lineup of salads at Chick-fil-A restaurants includes the Chick‑fil‑A® Cobb Salad, Market Salad and Spicy Southwest Salad.

How much is the lemon kale Caesar salad at Chick

It tastes like lemon, thanks to the freshly squeezed lemon and the lemon Caesar vinaigrette, and a little bit cheesy thanks to the Parmesan shards and panko topping. How much does it cost? For one large salad, it costs $7.99 at our local restaurant.